Cushion for a sound-box.



H. c. MILLER. CUSHION FOR A SOUND BOX.-

- APPLICATION FILED Kev-9.1910.

Patented Oct. 5,1915.

- 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.'

H. '0. MILLER.

cUsmoN FORA s'oumo BOX.

APPLICATION "LED NOV 9. 910.

- Elwomtom Patented 0655,1915.

HENRY C. MILIYIER, 0F WATERFORD, NEW YORK.

cusnron role A soUNn-Box.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 9, 1910. Serial N 0. 591,500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. MILLER, a

citizen of the United States, residing at lVate'rford, in the county of Saratoga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cushions for a Sound-Box; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the'invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for preventing a. sound box dropping on' a record that is being reproduced on a talking machine.

The object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic cushion for a sound 'conveyer in such manner that when the usual tilting sound box is lowered, it will gradually drop on the record without liability of scratching or otherwise mutilating the grooves.

A further object of the. invention is to provide a devicewhich will preclude the accidental'falling of the sound box with such force as would record. 1

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective View illustrating the application of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal mutilate the face of the section, taken through the cylinder, the

sound box being in lowered position in full lines, and in its elevated position in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cushioning device. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 5 is an enlargeddetail view thereof.

The same numerals refer to like parts in all the figures.

1 indicates a swinging sound conveyer of a sound reproducing machine, 2, the tilting neck, and 3, the sound box. These features form no part of the present invention and they may be of any suitable construction.

Permanently secured on the sound conveyer 2, is a cylinder 4, closed at one end by a screw cap 5, and having a vent opening6, which communicates with the atmosphere and which F itting in the valve seat 7, is a valve 8, the same being retained 'in..=position by a cap 9.

Secured to the tilting neck 2, is an arm 10, which may have an opening 11, to engage the neck for convenience in attaching the arm, or it may be secured in position in any desirable manner.

Pivotally connected to the outerend of the arm 10, is. a piston rod 12, which is pivotally connected at its opposite end to a loosely fitting piston 13, in the cylinder 4. The pivotal connection 14: between the piston rod and the piston-is so constructed that when the needle is vibrated by the indentations in the record, the movement will not be reflected to the piston.

A slot 15, is formed in the piston rod, and a pin 16, passes through the slot. When the sound box is raised and lowered by the irregularities of the surface of the record, the movement will not be reflected to the weight and friction .of the piston. If this was not provided, it is obvious that there would be unnecessary frictional resistance and the record would be subjected to undue wear, and would soon be destroyed.

Assuming the partsare assembled as described and the sound box is in its elevated position, the operation will be as follows. The sound box is tilted on its pivot to bring the needle to the record. As the arm 10 is connected to the neck 2, the piston 13 is drawn forward, and by'reason of the loosely fitted piston in the cylinder the air escapes gradually between the piston and the wall of the cylinder thereby dropping the sound box gradually until the needle reaches the' record surface. The speed is entirely controlled by fitting the iston more or less tight in the cylinder. lthough this is my preferred construction other means may be devised for this purpose. Asthe valve 7, fits in the seat 8, a partial vacuum is formed in the cylinder when the piston is drawn outwardly. When the sound box is tilted far enough to pass the pivotal connection of the neck, its weight will have a tendency to suddenly pull the piston forward, but the movement is quickly arrested by the partial vacuum, and the descent is very gradual, depending of course upon the amount of air admitted between the cylinder and the loosely fitted piston. The needle carried by Patented Oct. 5, 1915.

the sound box, contacts with the record so easily as to absolutely prevent marring or destroying the grooves, so that if perchance the sound box were to be accidentally thrown toward the "record, the latter would not be indented or otherwise destroyed.

As previously stated, any slight upward movement imparted to the soundbox by the recordwould not be reflected to the piston owing to the disposition of the slot 15 with reference to the pin 16, when the sound box is lowered. In other words, when the sound box is'lowered, the rear wall of the groove 15, will be against the pin 14:, hence if the record should cause the sound box to be raised slightly such movement will only be reflected to the arm and the piston rod, so thatno undue strain will occur on the record.

My invention is simple, and at the same timeis positive in operation, and will insurethe safety of records against destruction by accidental or careless lowering of the sound box.

This improvement is not necessarily limited to a pneumatic arrangement as described, as it is evident the cylinder may be provided with oil, whereby a cushion effect can be obtained in substantially the sanre manner. In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated such a construction, the same being applied to a sound conveyer of a difi'erent type than that shown in the previous figures. 30 indicates a support to which an amplifier may be secured. To the support is pivoted a yoke 31 having pivots 32, on which the sound conveyer 33, swings. By this construction the sound conveyer and a sound box may be raised and lowered, or horizontally swung. Secured to the yoke '31, is a bracket 34 to which is secured a cylinder 35. In the cylinder is a piston 36, provided in its bottom with an opening 37, in which is seated a ball valve 38, normally heldtherein by pins 39. Extending upwardly from the piston are arms 40, to which are pivotally connected links 41, the opposite ends of the latter being pivoted to the sound conveyer 33, as indicated at 43. The cylinder holds a supply of oil, indicated at 45. When the sound conveyer is lowered the oil retards the movement and permits the gradual descent of the needle to the record. On the other hand when the sound conveyer is elevated the oil will slowly flow through the opening 37, and consequently act the same as in the previous form of the invention disclosed. What I claim is:

1. The combination of a pivotally mounted amplifier of a talking machine, a sound box carried by the amplifier, a cylinder movable with the amplifier, a piston in the cylinder, a valve controlling an opening in the cylinder, and a connection between the sound. box. and the piston, whereby the movement of the sound box toward a record being reproduced is retarded irrespective of the position of said sound box to the said record.

2. The combination of a movable amplifier of a talking machine, a sound box carried by the movable amplifier, a cylinder movable with the amplifier, a piston in the cylinder, a connection between the sound box and the piston, and means controlled by the movement of the piston to retard the lowering movement of the sound box at any point on the surface of a record being reproduced.

3. The combination of an amplifier of a talking machine, a sound box pivoted to the amplifier, a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a connection between the sound box and the piston, means controlled by. the movement of the piston to retard the lowering movement of the sound box, and means to prevent minor movements of the sound box moving the piston.

4. In combination, a pivotally mounted sound box movable in two directions, a cylinder movable in one direction with the sound box, a piston in the cylinder, a piston rod pivotally connected to the piston, a valve controlling an opening formed in the cylinder, and a pivotal connection between the opposite end of the piston rod and the sound box, whereby the lowering movement of the sound box will be retarded at any point on the surface of the record being reproduced.

5. In combination, a sound conveyer, a movable sound box pivoted to the movable sound conveyer, a cylinder secured to the sound conveyer and movable therewith, said cylinder having a vent opening, a valve controlling the vent opening, a piston operating in the cylinder, an arm movable with the sound box, and a piston rod connected to the piston and the arm, whereby to retard the lowering movement of the sound box at any point on the surface of a record being reproduced. 6. In combination with a movable sound conveyer and a sound box movable with the sound conveyer, a cylinder carried by said.

sound conveyer, a valve controlled opening formed in the cylinder a piston operating in the cylinder, and a connection between the piston and sound box, whereby to retard the lowering movement of the sound box at any point on the surface of a record being reproduced.

7 In combination with a sound conveyer and pivoted sound box, a cylinder, a valve controlled opening in the cylinder, a piston operating in the cylinder, and a connection between the piston and sound box, the said connection having a slot where it is connected to the piston, whereby the movement of the sound box will be retarded, and whereby minor movements of the sound box will not move the piston.

q 8. In combination with a pivoted sound box, a cylinder, a valve controlled opening in the cylinder, a piston operating in the cylinder, and a connection between the piston and sound box, said connection having aslot to permit minor movement of the sound box without moving the piston.

9. In combination, a sound conveyer having a sound box, and means including a piston and cylinder for retarding the movement ,fier, a sound box movably connected therewith, a cylinder movable with the amplifier,

of the sound box, and means for permitting minor movements of the sound box without moving the piston.

10. In combination, a sound conveyer having a pivotally mounted sound box conand means cooperating with the cylinder and the sound box for retarding the lower- 5 ingmovement of the sound box on any point on the surface of a record being reproduced.

. l2. In a talking machine, the-combination at a movable sound conveyer and a sound box carried thereby, and means including a rtarder movable with the sound conveyer and sound box for preventing the sound box suddenly falling at any point on the surface of a record being reproduced.

13. In a talking machine, the combination of a movable sound conveyer and a sound boxcarried'thereby; a cylinder movable with the sound conveyor and sound box, a piston "fitting loosely in the cylinder, and a valve in the cylinder closed by the outward mo've- I ment of the piston'to retard the lowering of the sound box, said valve beingopened to permit free movement of the piston when the sound box is elevated.

14. In a talking machine, the combination of a sound tube, a sound box mounted to turn on the sound tube, cushioning means between the sound box and the sound, tube including a piston to retard the movement of the sound box in one direction, andmeans to permit a slight movement. of. the sound box independent of the movementof the piston.

In-testimony,whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of "two subscribing witnesses.

j HENRY o. MILLER.

Witnesses: Y e

H. R. VAN Kmncx, L. J. SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of; Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

